The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-15
THE ORIGIN OF PHRASES.
The Incidents That Made Expressions
Immortal.
From az Christian Union.

From the Christian Union.
Dido, Queen of Tyre, about seven centu-
ries before Christ, after her husband had
been put to death by her brother, fled from
that city and established a colony on the
north coast of Africa. Having bargained
with the natives for as much land as could
be surrounded with bulls hide, she cut the
hide into narrow strips, tied them together,
and claimed the land that could be sur
rounded with the line thus made She was
allowed to have her way and now, when
one plays sharp trick, he is said to ''cut
a dido
tailor of Samarcand, Asia, who lived
on a street leading to the burying ground,
kept near his shop an earthen pot, i'll which
he was accustomed to deposit pebble
whenever body was carried to its final
resting place Finally the tailor died and
seeing the shop deserted, person inquired
what had become of its former occupant.
He has gone to pot himself, was the re-
ply by one of the deceaseds neighbors.
During a battle between the Russians and
Tartars private soldier of the former cried
out: Captain, I've caught a Tartar"
Bring him along, said the officer. HE
won't let me, y was the response. InveStiga-
ton proved that the captive had the captor
by the arm and would not allow him to
move So catching Tartar" is applica-
BILE to one who has found an antagonist too
powerful for him.
While lying ON the gridiron over a slow
fire, st. Lawrence-in whose honor the
Escurial was built by Philip I.-said to the
Emperor, who was watching his sufferings:
ASSdtltS est jam ueFSa ct Dldnducu; which
one translator, not quite literally, but APP
preciatively of the grim humor character
izing the original, rendered:
This side enough is toasted
Then turn me- tyrant, and eat;
And see whether raw or roasted
am the better meat.
Hence, "Done to turn"
The infamous Catherine de Medici had
her favorite palace, the Louvre, supplied
with acoustic tubes in such way that what
was uttered aloud in one room was heard by
her in any other Therefore, matters which it
was considered advisable to keep from her
knowledged were discussed in whispers, be-
cause the ''walls had ears"
In ancient times the English were won't
| to cover their floors with rusheS: and, when
visitors of distinction were expected fresh
rushes were substituted for the old. The
changes were not made if the visitors were
ordinary people, who were regarded mot
worth a rush :" later, mot worth straw
Formerly i'll London, when small dealer
bought bread of the baker, for every
dozen loaves purchased he was given AN ex-
ira loaf as his profit; from which circum-
stance "a bakers dozen" signifies thirteen
| Various origins have been assigned to the
phrase, but the above is the only one that is
| based on a sure foundation.
In work, Essays from the Desk of Poor
Robert the Scribe," published in 1915, the
author, c. Miner, tells the story of boy
who by the offer OF a liberal compensa-
ton, was induced to turn a grindstone for a
man who desired TO sharpen his ak. The
promised compensation was never paid
and of one who DISCUSSES his own selfish
aims under and appearance of generosity or
disinterestedness, it is remarked, He has
an ak to grind"